Chronicling the day and life in wine country

Your Local Wino is back (actually never really left...) and ready to begin posting (again) my travels and experiences around wine country for 2014. After 5 years of living in the heart of this amazing land and starting my touring business, Flex Wine Tours, I am officially your Chief Wino & Guide to take you through my days of living the life here. I will be documenting weekly the special people, places, events, wines, landscapes and private spots I discover along the way. Each weekly post will be accompanied by a picture of the week and any story that may go along with it. So, enjoy the ride and we're sure to discover some very intriguing things that make living here so amazing.

This was a unusual discovery of an old vineyard up at Hess Winery on Mt. Veeder that I was certain was old vine Zin. Turns out this is 77-year old vine Cabernet Sauvignon that had somehow survived the phylloxera plight over the decades. Hess is doing some fun wines and alternative varietals under its 'Artezin' labels. We tasted Verdehlo, Carignan, Charbono, Mourvedre, and a couple of Petite Sirahs and Zins. Impressive collection these days and a beautiful property of course. Check it out again if you have not been up there in a while.

Roads Less Traveled (RLT) Feature:
RLT Varietal of the Week - Mencia
This red grape from north-western Spain, is the primary varietal of Bierzo region. It is a light acidic wine that is often blended with Garnacha Tinta and drinks well while young giving violet aromas and flavors of fresh raspberry and black currant.

RLT Maverick Food & Wine Pairing
I love drinking Tawny Port with caramelized popcorn
Try Taylor Fladgate 10-year Tawny (~$34)

Until the next swirl, sip well my friends.
James 
Chief Wino